26th October - Greek by birth, Evarist was however a Jewish. It is not known when he embraced the faith and how he came to Rome, but it is known that, having become a priest, he greatly edified the faithful by his example, his charity and his instructions.

After the martyrdom of St. Pope Anaclet, when the second general persecution was raging with the greatest fury, St. Evarist was unanimously elected Pope. This true Father of Christianity put all his care into providing for the needs of the Church at a time when it was persecuted by the pagans and torn apart by the heretics of the various Gnostic sects that were then infesting Christianity. The Supreme Pontiff watched over his flock so well that the faithful of Rome always maintained the purity of faith and the poison of heresy could never win the hearts and minds of Roman Christians. Évariste did not rely solely on the priests of Rome to distribute the word of God, but he often preached himself and visited the different parishes of the city with tireless zeal.

Trajan's persecution, considered the third in the history of the Church, began under the pontificate of the holy Pope Evarist. This unholy emperor had a mortal aversion to Christians, whom he persecuted during the last nine years of his reign. To make it easier to control the flock, this tyrant attacked the supreme shepherd. Seized and thrown into prison, Saint Evarist exploded so strongly in his joy of suffering for Jesus Christ that the magistrates were forbidden and amazed. This admirable sovereign pontiff endured martyrdom at the same time as the illustrious bishop of Antioch, St. Ignatius. The heroic and glorious confession of these two great saints united the Churches of East and West in the same profession of faith. The body of St. Evarist is buried in the Vatican, next to the tomb of St. Peter.